Chase the vain-vexing dream!

Long years have rolled; and still I fear,

As when the Argive band

Unloosed their cables from the shore,[n68]

And eager plied the frequent oar

To the far Ilian strand.

ANTISTROPHE I.

Now they return: my vouching eyes

To prop my faith conspire,

And yet my heart, in self-taught hymns,